Scottish government gives community energy funding boost

Allocations of funding from the Local Energy Challenge Fund have been announced. Five successful projects across Scotland will benefit from more than £20 million of funding towards development of energy delivery methods. Scottish Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing made the announcement.

The successful applicants are:

1. Community Energy Scotland: £1.8 million.

2. Insch Renewable Energy Consortium: £6 million.

3. Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association: £3.2 million.

4. Highland Council: £6 million.

5. Bright Green Hydrogen: £4 million.

Ewing said:

“The Scottish Government is defining a distinctive approach to Scotland’s future energy provision; putting communities at the heart of decisions about their local energy system; and empowering them to take an economic stake in new developments.” “These projects are a huge step towards defining a distinctive approach to Scotland’s future energy provision. They will provide vital learning across extremely challenging areas, such as adding value to local economies, matching local supply and demand, and addressing fuel poverty.” ? “But we know this is just the beginning, and we want to support more innovations like these. This is why the Scottish Government will run a second Challenge Fund, subject to the next spending round, making up to £500,000 will be available in 2015/2016.”